Tariq Fazal takes notice of non-provision of textbooks to students

Islamabad—Minister of State for Capital Administration & Development Division (CA&DD), Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has taken serious notice of the non-provision of textbooks to the students of the schools under Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).
He called a meeting of FDE and National Books Foundation (NBF) officials in the Ministry on Monday to address this issue on urgent basis. Secretary CA&DD, Hassan Iqbal, DG FDE and MD NBF were also present in the meeting.
Minister of State expressed his serious concerns over the short supply of textbooks to the students and directed MD National Books Foundation (NBF) to ensure the provision of the textbooks to each and every student of the government schools of Federal areas on urgent basis.
It was also decided in the meeting that the process will be monitored on daily basis and reports would be submitted to the Minister of State. A review meeting to analyze the progress will be held next week.
Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry further directed the DG FDE that from next year, it advanced payment must be ensured to National Books Foundation at the time of MOU signing so that textbooks can be timely provided to the students on the day of the announcement of results before the commencement of new academic session.
Director General, Federal Directorate of Education briefed the Minister of State that almost 60 percent of textbooks had already been delivered to FDE by NBF and these textbooks were being distributed among the student through relevant school heads.
“These books are distributed through nine distribution centers, five in urban and four in rural areas of the Capital” DG FDE continued.
She further briefed the Minister that this year situation was much better than the previous years where process for distribution of textbooks used to be completed in June/July.
MD National Books Foundation briefed the Minister of State that NBF has to get textbooks published through private publisher which causes delays. He further said that delay in the selection of books at the part of Federal Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education is also a major cause for the late provisions of the textbooks to the students.
Minister of State has directed the MD National Books Foundation to ensure the provision of all textbooks as demanded by the Federal Directorate of Education by April 30, 2016 positively.